End of April 2026

 "Awareness is always the first step toward change..." p. 118 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros
Barefoot on the Beach 
Countenance: mental Composure
 
Dave Mason May 10, 1946 - Apr 19, 2026
 started but...
Feelings kinda sluggish so... out into the cool sunshine to recharge

Garlic mustard as a Medicinal Plant: Tips for Foraging & Use click here
"How the Body from spirit does slowly unwind / Until we are pure spirit at the end" ~ Theodore Roethke
"Intuition is a spiritual faculty, and does not explain,  but simply points the way." ~ Florence Scovel Shinn
"Just a Song Before I Go" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash: listen here
Kris is writing a book! click here for her announcement of This Human Life 
Lemon Loaf recipe was excellent 👌 
Mediate presence as opposed to immediate: the presences in landscape are Mediate; they are often silent and indirect" p.52 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 
Neil Diamond's "I Am... I Said" listen here
"One World One Life" t-shirt Kris Claire PhD was wearing in this video 
"Quiet Your Mind" 
"Remember your power of choice"
Start to choose what takes space in your brain p. 118 Dear Friend, April 23
 too cute not to include 
"Tell the Truth" by The Avett Brothers listen here
"Understand Your Impact" Dear Friend, April 27, p. 122
Verve: "Bitter Sweet Symphony" 
 "Why not me? Feed yourself positivity." Check out Paul Avellino's Instagram here

April 7 thru April 18, 2026

"As the density of night gives way to the bright song of the dawn, so your soul continually coaxes you to give way to the light and awaken." p. 49 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 
"Bloom" by Paper Kites listen here
"Clear Communication Connects us." p. 108
Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 
"Early Morning Breeze" by Dolly Parton listen here 
"Free by Florence + the Machine" listen here
"Get Together" by The Youngbloods listen here
"Hey Tomorrow" by Jim Croce listen here
"Into the journey of each person there is the occasional Intrusion of the stranger." p. 48 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 
"Just a quiet day with both of us relaxing at home." ~ LB 11:12 am 4/12/26
"Katy Nichole's "Hold On" Music and lyrics here
"Longing is the voice of your soul." p. 49 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) by Marvin Gaye listen here
"Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)" by Gladys Knight & The Pips listen here
"Protect your Peace and Preserve your energy letting go of the need to know why." p. 107 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros and Providence refers to the Protective care of God or nature as a spiritual guide, or general foresight and Prudent management of resources. 
Quince blooming on Harris Fuller Rd, Norwich, CT
"Release The Why" April 12 Dear Friend p. 107
"Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crow
"Time matters" ~ Talmidge Cregg, West Wing Season 4 Episode 13 "The Long Goodbye"
"Unfathomable miracle of being." p. 49 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 
Virginia, Summer 1993 Unity Renaissance Chesapeake, V
 
"Who Knew" by P!nk listen here
eXpress yourself in every area of your life from a place of clarity and truth" April 13 Dear Friend p.108
"Younger You" by Miley Cyrus listen here
Zac Brown Band "Pirates & Poets" listen here

April 1, New Chapter

April 1, 2026 made the calls and logged into SSA to start the ball rolling
"Bloom" by The Paper Kites listen and watch video here
Chapter #? Is right around the Corner
Day 1 of Dear Friend by Michelle Maros was, of course, "New Beginnings"
"Emotional monitoring: feeling the need to control and manage moods of people around [me] to maintain peace and avoid conflict. " p. 92 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros
Fermentation and change will influence so much of your later life" p. 33 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue
Good faith--without excessive anxiety or self-rebuke. p. 32 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 
Happy Easter
"It's great to Jump and just...
....Jump and just not think
Kahlil Gibran says, "Your children are not your children.  They are the son and daughters of...
Life's Longing for itself." p. 39 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue
Now reading An Animated Alphabet by Marie Angel
Opalescent Nudibranch a type of brightly colored marine sea slug found along the Pacific coast of North Americathank you Shelby ðŸ˜Š 
Peaceful Mind, Peaceful Life
Quiet Easter Sunday reading An Animated Alphabet by Marie Angel
"Release your self from this Role and Regain your peace" p.92 Dear Me 🩷 
 "Strong foundation -- your core, your values, your special sense of you." p. 100 Dear Me: Daily 🩷 Notes for Complation, Connection,  and Clarity by Michelle Maro
"Thought is a permanent wanderer... The soul and the spirit are wanderers; Their places are dedicated to the discovery what is..
"Unknown and strange." p. 47 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue
Very Well Mind source ...
 "When Emotional Monitoring Becomes Toxic... it harms your partner, your relationship, and more importantly, yourself" by Sanjana Gupta
"eXperience a lasting sense of belonging... find it in yourself." p. 101 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros
"You have to find the zeal in yourself and bring that out." ~ Joseph Campbell

March 21 Spring! Birthday 🎂 Celebrating

A festive table
Bright Blue "Happy Birthday" garland
Celebrating all weekend
Dexter's Smoothie Coffee Vault
Enjoyed our Entire day together :)
"Focus on what lures you today and may in the Future... imagine the next great time in your life..." p.32  ~ 12 Ways to Retire on Less: Planning an Affordable Future by Harriet Edleson
Happy Birthday Logan xo
John Denver's "Looking for Space"
Kenny Chesney's "French Kissing Life"
Leanna Crawford's "Truth I'm Standing On"
Mom :) 22 March 2026
New shirt, scents, and seeds :
Olde Mistick Village was mobbed! We'll do that another day. Way too "peoply"
Pluralism accepting more than one idea
Quiet, Rainy, Sunday afternoon

 Birthday dinner
Unique dessert for Birthday weekend
Vada's Vanilla Buns from this cool cookbook Logan found


eXcellent melding of book, Broadway musical, ridiculousness of everything, love and friendship
Yantic Plaza shopping: Small Potatoes and G's Country Barn


Songs from the way back machine are sooth my soul

Amy Grant "The Me That Remains" listen and watch here
"Bye-Bye" by Jo Dee Messina listen and watch here
"Changes" by David Bowie listen here
Don Williams' "You're My Best Friend" listen and watch here
England Dan & John Ford Coley's "Nights Are Forever Without You"
 "Fight Song" by Rachel Patten 2015 listen here
"Gone, Gone, Gone" by Phillip Phillips listen and watch here
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"I Don't Wanna Cry" by Mariah Carey
"Just doesn't matter, it Just doesn't matter, it Just doesn't matter..." ~ Meatballs 1979 check it out here
Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" still so fitting today 15 March 26
"Look After You" by The Fray listen here
Me on West Broad Street School steps 1971 :)
"Noise / Livin' rent free in my head / Heaven finds me in a still small voice / And it sounds like grace instead. You remind me who I am / When I look in the mirror and I'm not so sure / Lord, I don't wanna listen to the lies anymore... I don't belong to the lies I belong to you / And that's the Truth" lyrics of "Truth" by Megan Woods here
One can never change the past, only the hold it has on you, and while nothing in your life is reversible, you can reverse it nevertheless.” ~ Merle Shain
P!nk's "Trustfall" listen and watch here 
 "Quality of Life: Part Two" The Big C S4:E2 "I get to quit. You don't." ❤️ listen to the music that was playing here
"Reason To Believe" by Rod Stewart listen here
"Strong Enough to Bend" by Tanya Tucker 1988 listen here
"Truth" by Megan Woods here 
"Used to know who I was / Now I look in the mirror and I'm not so sure / Lord, I don't wanna listen to the lies anymore." Megan Woods' "Truth" lyrics here
 Vanessa Colton's "A Thousand Miles
1972
"eXperiencing what I want for the story of my life! ~ Dear Friend 17 March
"Your Song" by Elton John came out in 1971. For me, forever "our song" 1977 Kevin Higgins
Zac Brown Band's "Butterfly" featuring Dolly Parton listen here 

Processing Emotions - again...

Against The Wind (Live) by Noah Cyrus listen here on SirusXM Coffee House 1 Mar 26
"Believe in your ability to fortify yourself today, despite what the world puts in your path." p. 67 March 4 Dear Friend
"Confidence us crafted over time, through personal connectionand practiced resilience." p. 67 March 4 Dear Friend 
Don't Let The Bastards (Get You Down)
Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue is the perfect book for me to pick up again today. 8 March 2026
Florence + the Machine "Shake It Out"
Giver / Taker by Kacey Musgraves
"Happiness isn't dependent on your circumstances; It's a product of your relationship with yourself. It's the result of self-love and self-respect cultivated over time. It builds from a steady practice of contentment as you train yourself to look for the magic all around you, trusting it's always there." p. 65 Dear Friend
"I'm finally movingc changing my direction.  The Idea of it makes me feel Indestructible." p. 210
Justin Moore ft. Dierks Bentley listen here. Thank you, Christine M. Law
 lyrics 
"Knee-jerk reactions and impulses, letting myself say [and do] whatever comes to mind..." p. 70 March 7 Dear Friend 
"Life will throw curveballs in your path, but if you stay open and curious,  those curveballs can become gateways to a new level of awareness and knowledge. " p. 67 March 4 Dear Friend 
"Make peace with who you are... " March 8, Simple Abundance 
Natasha Bedingfield "Today is Where Your Book Begins" March 6, 2026 page a day calendar listen, watch, and feel the song here 
"Ordinary moments that become extraordinary from a distance. " p. 145 Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah 
"Questioning everything, feeling assuredof nothing." p. 67 March 4 Dear Friend
"Release the relationships that harm your mental health..." p. 67 March 4 Dear Friend 
"Simplicity gains importance in our lives as we begin to make peace with ourselves...tge teal thing is finally ready to be revealed." ~ March 8 Simple Abundance 
"Take tiny steps toward your goals and dreams... follow through... Trust in yourself..." p. 67 March 4 Dear Friend
"Uneven steps, tender turns, and wild-hearted wonderings." ~ Helen Hallows' An invitation to be brave and vulnerable Mar 2
Video by Pam Zagarenski see "Z"
"We're All Alone" by Boz Scaggs Sunday, March 1 2026
"eXistenial question: who are you? p. 66 March 3 Dear Friend
"You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." J. R. Tolkien qtd. Part One Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah 


End of February 2026 More snow, and books :)

Accept Life's Little Nudges" ~ Dear Friend February 19
"Because pursuing your dreams is an act of Bravery in a world filled with doubt and criticism." ~ Dear Friend February 20
"Culivate a deeper understanding and perspective" ~ Dear Friend February 15
"Each Day Is A Gift...Embrace true, healthy positivity"  ~ Dear Friend
Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" listen here
Gut Goes right back to February 2008
Haircut!! Yes! Yay!! Thank you, Patty 💇‍♀️
"It's Okay To Disagree" ~ Dear Friend February 16
Jamie, Edith, and June came into the library today! Sunday, 22 Feb 26 So glad I agreed to fill in
"Let Hope Move You" p.50 ~ Dear Friend
Our culture Often glorifies Our ability to multitask... making us feel scattered and overwhelmed... p. 64 Dear Friend
Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-zoo 
"Quiet settles in between us, turns awkward." p. 55 ~ Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah 
Reading... finally 📖📚
Snow ❄️ lots and lots of Snow ❄️ 🙄 
"Thundersnow Strikes Again" Thank you, Jim Cantore ☺️ watch here
"Unabashed love" p. 86 "Uncontainable "like a storm wave breaking over the beach." p. 139   ~ Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah 
Venture out... FriluftsliV Chapter 2 of The Scandinavian Guide to Happiness
"We are so accustomed to overextending ourselves and caring for others, but rarely do we take time to ask ourselves what we need..."
eXperiment with staying in the Present moment,  limiting attention to one thing at a time." p. 64 Dear Friend
You [Jackie Law] are worthy of care and compassion, and You never need an explanation for prioritizing Your well-being!" p.60  ~ Dear Friend
"Zipperump-a-zoo in Professor Wormbog and his search for the Zipperump-a-zoo" p. 54 ~ Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah 

February begins with a Brrr

Better Be Home Soon” by Crowded House listen here
Corner Thai Café in Westerly has yummy food and delicious fried ice cream
 2/13/26
Down By The Water” by Abigail Lapell listen here
E.Y.E.S. by Hannah Mangum: 
Friday night movie

Credit: Little Pine Learners
"Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera listen here
Hazlett's "Queen of the Season" listen and watch here
"Into the Night" by Benny Mardones 1980 ah memories dancing Michael at The Wreck
"Just Remember I Love You" by Firefall 1977 listen here
"Kiss Me" Song by Sixpence None The Richer ‧ 1997  The Way Home S1E5 l Listen here
"Listen and Learn" Feb 15 entry from Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 
"Mean Old Man" by James Taylor from the album October Road listen here
 2/13/26
Nana's Mystic GingerBrew Man - yum!
Percy the Park Keeper: A Classic Treasury by Nick Butterworth 
Quiambaug Cove,  Stonington 7:33 am Saturday,  January 31, 2026
Roberta and Tom Keena's for lunch and genealogy chat with Mom 16 Feb 2026 and also found out Michael Morrone has been facing medical challenges for sometime now.
"Sweet Life" by Paul Davis listen here
"This Year’s Love" by David Gray was in S2E4 of
"Uneven steps, tender turns, and wild-hearted wonderings." ~ Helen Hallows' February Newsletter "The Wild Path"
Valentine's Day
Wayland's Wharf in Winter Waiting 
Xoxo_bravo_girl_ posted this video of James Van Der Beek and his daughter shortly after his passing.
"You live, you learn / You love, you learn / You cry, you learn / You lose, you learn / You bleed, you learn / You scream you learn.." Alanis Morissette from The Way Home  Season 1 Episode 7
Zine prototype for hello (2026) from Han Samwich check it out here